UPDATE 5-Netanyahu surprise gives Israel grand coalition

May 08, 2012|Reuters

The next election was due in October 2013 but Netanyahu hadpushed this month for an early poll after divisions emerged inhis coalition over the new military conscription law. Parliamentwas preparing to dissolve itself and clear the decks for a Sept.4 ballot while the backroom talks with Kadima were under way.

"When it turned out it was possible to set up the biggestgovernment in Israel's history ... I thought we could restorestability without elections, so I decided to set up a broadnational unity government," Netanyahu said.

The accord stunned the political establishment and drewswift condemnation from the centre-left Labour party, which hadbeen touted in opinion polls to be on course for a resurgence atthe expense of Kadima.

"This is a pact of cowards and the most contemptible andpreposterous zigzag in Israel's political history," Labour partyleader Shelly Yachimovich was quoted as saying in the media,where commentators hailed Netanyahu's political prowess.

Kadima, with 28 seats, will add significant weight to thecoalition, but it remains uncertain how it will get along withreligious and ultra-right parties also in the cabinet.

Inter-government relations are likely to be tested swiftlyover the issue of settlement building after the high courtordered the government on Monday to demolish five apartmentbuildings in a Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank.

Many Netanyahu supporters want him to adopt legislation tolegalise settlements, such as the Ulpana apartments, which acourt has ruled were built on privately owned Palestinian land.

It is not clear if Kadima would support such a move, whichwould draw international condemnation on Israel.